Hanger with integral image

ABSTRACT

A garment hanger having a central region defining a boundary of an opening through the thickness of the hanger. A web of material extends across the opening, between contact points with the boundary to depict an image formed of the web of material across the opening. Flocking can be applied to the hanger.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to garment hangers and more particularly to a garment hanger displaying an image.

Wire hangers are commonly made with a simple loop of wire in a flattened triangular shape that continues into a hook at the upper end. Wooden hangers generally comprise a flat or gently curved piece of wood cut in a triangular or chevron shape and a hook, usually of metal, protruding from the top, above a central region of the hanger, with arms extending in both directions from the central region. Some wooden hangers have a crossbar from tip to tip of the arms to form a triangle. This crossbar is often used to hand pants designed to hang pants. Other hangers, which mostly mimic the shape of either a wire or wooden hanger are made of plastic.

Plastic hangers are typically made by injection molding. As used herein, the term plastic will refer to the commonly used meaning of plastic for use in garment hangers, i.e., various polymers and resins, including thermoplastic and thermosetting resins, such as nylon, polyethylene or PVC.

Higher end hangers are generally made from more expensive materials or have more complicated shapes and features. Hangers have also been formed of colored plastic or had colors painted thereon. However, the different types of hangers have been relatively few in number and product differentiation and design creativity has been limited.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a different type of hanger and method of manufacture that overcomes drawbacks, inadequacies and limitations of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a garment hanger is provided having a central region connected to an upwardly extending, with two arms extended in opposite directions from the central region. In embodiments of the invention, a crossbar connects the far ends of each arm. The central region defines an opening, circumscribed by a boundary, through the thickness of the hanger. A web of material extends across the opening, within the boundary, to depict an image formed of the web of material (and openings therein) across the opening. In one embodiment of the invention, the boundary is from about 1 to about 3 inches wide, preferably about 1.5 to about 2.5 inches, most preferably about 2 inches wide. For structural integrity, the area surrounding the boundary should be greater than about 0.18 inches, preferably greater than about 0.2 inches, most preferably about 0.25 inches or wider, but depends on the thickness of the central region and the materials of construction. The hanger preferably has a flat profile, at least in the central region. The arms can curve gently towards each other. The thickness of the central region should be at least about 0.1 inch, preferably at least about 0.15 inches, more preferably at least about 0.18 inches in thickness.

The web of material across the opening should generally occupy at least about 30%, preferably at least about 40% in most preferably at least about 50% of the area circumscribed by the boundary. For structural purposes, the boundary preferably defines a circular, oval, diamond or triangular in shape. Similarly, the web itself should preferably define triangular, diamond-shaped or circular openings.

The boundary is defined by the openings in the central region and the points of contact between the web and the central area. In embodiments of the invention, the web can be a solid or mostly solid shape, such as an emblem, sea shell or logo, connected to the central region at points of contact between the web and the boundary. The web can also be a lattice structure, or other pattern. Preferably, it is formed by removing material from within the boundary.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hanger, including the arms and central region are covered with flocking, preferably nylon flocking with an ABS backing. Additional images can be depicted or written on the flocking, to provide additional depictions.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved garment hanger and an improved method of making a hanger.

Still other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will, in part be apparent from the specification and drawings. The invention accordingly comprises the article of manufacture, the method of making the article and the method of using the article which will be exemplified in the articles and methods hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicating the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a garment hanger in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a garment hanger in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of a garment hanger in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A garment hanger 100 is shown generally in FIG. 1. Hanger 100 includes a central region 110 and a pair of arms 121 and 122 extending in opposite directions from central region 110. A crossbar 130 connects an end 121 a of arm 121 and an end 122 a of arm 122. A pair of notches 123 are provided in arms 121 and 122 for hanging garment straps. In other embodiments of the invention, crossbar 130 can be omitted and different commonly used hanger shapes can be employed.

A neck 140 is located at the top of central region 110. A hook 145 extends upward from neck 140. Hook 145 can be fixed or can be assembled to pivot about neck 140. In other embodiments of the invention, the hook can be integrally formed from the central region as a continuous piece of plastic.

Central region 110 defines a display area 150, defined by a virtual boundary 151. A web of material 155 extends across display area 150, as a combination of preferably the same material and preferably of the same thickness as central region 110. The image of web 155 includes a plurality of openings 152 defined by web 155. Web 155 is joined to central region 110 at a plurality of contact points 153 at boundary 151. Accordingly, boundary 151 takes the shape and border of the alternating openings 152 and contact points 153 at the outermost portions of web 155. Boundary 151 preferably takes the general form of a geometric shape (here, a circle). Ovals, diamonds and triangles are preferred. Accordingly, display area 150 is generally wider than the remainder of hanger 100.

Hanger 100 preferably has a uniform thickness. This thickness is preferrably at least about 0.1 inches, preferably at least about 0.15 inches and more preferably at least about 0.18 inches thick. In other embodiments of the invention, the dimensions of arms 121, 122 and crossbar 130 can vary in shape and configuration. However, central region 110 and display area 150 are preferably flat and of uniform thickness.

Hanger 110 can be made of various materials. For example, hanger 110 can be made from wood or various plastic materials, such as nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and so forth.

In one embodiments of the invention, hanger 100 is injection molded as a blank, lacking display area 150. Then, display area 150 can be formed by removing material to form the openings with a die, drilling out the openings or otherwise forming web 155. In another embodiment of the invention, hanger 100 is injection molded with display area 150 and web 155 formed by the molding process.

In another embodiment of the invention, hanger 100 can be made of wood and material can be removed from central region 110 to form web 155 display area 150.

Care must be taken, when forming display area 150, so as not to overly diminish the structural integrity of hanger 100. Therefore, it is preferable for display area 152 have a generally circular, diamond or triangular shape. Furthermore, openings 152 defined by web 155 should define circular, diamond or triangular shapes, such as a snowflake pattern, for maximum strength. A web defining circular openings 152 is also preferred.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown generally as hanger 200 in FIG. 2. Hanger 200 is similar in construction to hanger 100. Thus, hanger 200 includes a central region 210, having a pair of arms 221 and 222 extending therefrom, with notches 223 formed therein and a crossbar 230. Central region 210 includes display area 250 with web 255 therein, defined by boundary 251 and having openings 252 and contact points 253.

Hanger 200 differs from hanger 100, because it is covered with a flocking material 260. In an embodiment of the invention, flocking 260 also covers all portions of web 255. Flocking 260 can be applied in a conventional manner. A graphic 270, in the form of words or pictures can be depicted on the flocking. The flocking is preferably formed of nylon, with an ABS backing.

Referring to FIG. 3, a hanger 300 includes a solid web 355, having two points of contact, a contact point 353 a and a contact point 353 b, with a boundary 351, defining a display area 350. Solid web 355 can depict different designs. In another embodiment of the invention, solid web 355 and can itself have openings therethrough.

As discussed above, in preferred embodiments of the invention, the display area defines a boundary, which can be generally circular in shape. The boundary is defined by the points of contact of the web with the boundary in the central region and the openings between the points of contact of the web with the boundary of the central region. The web of material across the opening defined by the boundary of the display area should generally occupy at least about 30%, preferably at least about 40% and more preferably at least about 50% of the area within the boundary. The web should have at least 2, preferably 3 points of contact with the display area boundary, more preferably at least 5 points of contact and still more preferably at least 10 points of contact. The points of contact should occupy at least about 30%, preferably at least about 40% and most preferably at least about 50% of the area within the boundary.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and, since certain changes may be made in carrying out the above method and in the article of manufacture set forth, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Particularly it is to be understood that in said claims, ingredients or compounds recited in the singular are intended to include compatible mixtures of such ingredients wherever the sense permits. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A garment hanger, comprising: a central region having a first thickness in a thickness direction and a hook extending therefrom, substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction, and two arms extending sideways from the central region, substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction, the arms configured and adapted to support clothing, the central region defining a boundary of an opening through its thickness, and a web of material extending from at least two contact points at the boundary, across the opening, to depict an image formed of the web of material across the opening and optional openings defined by the web.
 2. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the web has at least 5 points of contact with the boundary.
 3. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the web has at least 10 points of contact with the boundary, the central portion and web comprising a continuous piece of material.
 4. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the web of material across the opening occupies at least about 40% of the area within the boundary.
 5. The garment hanger of claim 2, wherein the web of material across the opening occupies at least about 30% of the area of the opening.
 6. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the web of material across the opening occupies at least about 50% of the area within the boundary and at least about 40% of the boundary comprises points of contact with the web, the remainder being open space.
 7. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the boundary is at most from about 1 to about 3 inches across and the portion of the central region surrounding the boundary is greater than about 0.18 inches wide.
 8. The v hanger of claim 7, wherein, the central region has a flat profile, with a thickness of greater than 0.15 inches.
 9. The garment hanger of claim 1, comprising flocking over the arms, central region and web.
 10. The garment hanger of claim 1, comprising a crossbar connecting the arms.
 11. A method of making a garment hanger, comprising: forming a hanger having a flat central region with arms and a hook extending therefrom; defining a boundary within the central region; and removing material from within the boundary to define an image formed from a web of material extending across the boundary and extending to multiple contact points with the boundary.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein material is removed to form a web having at least 5 contact points with the boundary and occupying at least 40% of the area within the boundary.
 13. The method of claim 11, comprising applying flocking to the central region, arms and web.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the flocking is formed of nylon with an ABS backing.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the openings have a circular or diamond shape.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the boundary is generally circular. 